The St Julian’s Residents Association is baffled by and questions the legality of the decision taken by the Mepa Appeals Board to grant a permit for further development at Portomaso, which was originally refused by the Mepa Board. Mepa has never revoked the original permit conditions imposing protection of the site in question, so it is difficult to understand how the Appeals Board can overturn the Mepa Board’s decision.

Moreover, the disappearance of the protected Wedgefoot Grass, which is now only found in one other place on the island, raises alarm bells and serious questions which Mepa needs to look into properly if it is to be taken seriously.

The development of a further 7,500 square meters of virgin land on the shore only continues to gobble up the very few natural, open spaces left in St Julian’s, leaving no open spaces for locals and foreigners alike to enjoy. In addition, the increase in residential units will only contribute to more traffic problems in an area already suffering from serious congestion.

Furthermore, it seems that the Tumas Fenech Group will never be happy until they have covered every square inch of the Portomaso site in concrete and we wonder what other projects are in the pipeline.

St Julian’s quaint charm was destroyed long ago, but let us not allow Mepa and greed to destroy the little that is left!

Michel Spiteri

St Julian’s Residents Association